Life Raft Details!

We have been borrowing a small life raft to take with us in the airplane.  Since we're probably going to be flying over water more often over the next few years, we decided it was time to buy our own raft.

This is the raft - the bag is about 2' long and weighs about 30 lbs.

We could send the raft out to a vendor for inspection/certification (at great expense), but we are not required by the FAA to do so for our private flights.  Actually, we're only required to have a life vest for each passenger.....but we're happier with a life raft as well.....

Ever wonder what goodies are inside a life raft?

Well - you're gonna find out now!

This is a 6-man life raft.

It has an auto-inflation CO2 cartridge.  You pull the cord and it instantly inflates the raft.

And lots of survival items. Even some bags of fresh water.  There is a sponge to get water out of the raft if it splashes in and the ever-important Swiss-Army knife!!

There's an emergency locator beacon and basic tent-poles that support a nylon "hood" over the entire raft to keep the sun off.

Lot's of medical supplies too. Everything is in waterproof sacks and is tethered to the raft so it doesn't float away.

And there it is - all blown up (using air from the leaf blower).   We're leaving it blown up for 24 hrs just to verify it doesn't leak.  Interesting to see that there is a pair of scissors in a pocket on the tube of the raft and a sea-anchor that's like a small parachute you let out on a line to stabilize the raft.   Really glad we looked it all over - it's good to know in advance what you have!